Process of pressing sound-records.



pressing sound N0 Drawing UM TED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

' MERVIN E. I YLE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

PROCEQS 0F PRESSING $OUND-RECORDS.

of Pressing Sound-Records, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to a process of records by the use of a suitable matrix. It has heretofore been proposed to make said records by placing a body of thermoplastic material, softened by heat, in contact with a heated matrix in a suitable die, and while both the matrix and the material are heated subject the same to pressure and then cool the matrix and record material while still under pressure and finally separate the pressed record from the anatrix. In such process, the thermoplastic record material has been placed in contact with the matrix in the form of a lump at approximately the central portion of the matrix and then subjected. to pressure. It has also been proposed to form the record proper with a body portion of inferior rec-l ord material and a thin face portion of superior record material in the form of a thin film or ,layer on the surface of a sheet of material such as paper. In making this last record, the process consists in heating the matrix and the superior record material carried by the separating sheet; placing the superior record material face down ward on the matrix and then placing the inferior record material in a heated condi tion, either in the form of a lump or in disk form, and then subjecting the whole to pressure while heated and allowing the pressed record and the matrix "to cool under pressure. This last mentioned method has certain advantages, but it has-been found that there is a decided disadvantage due to the fact that the sheet of paper remains in the record Ltcrposed as a dividing sheet between the superior record material and the inferior body portion of the record, which sheet of paper is liable to "wrinkle or blister and form a defective spot or portion in the record. H

i A still further process of pressing; sound records consists in forming a disk of inferior thermoplastic material as a bodv portime cf th record and sifting fin ly divided Specification of Letters Patent.

separating ,Patented Sept, 7, 1915.

Application filed July 15, 1913 Serial No; 279,174.

superior record material thereon to form the record surface proper, and then when the whole is sufficiently heated to-render it plastie, it is placed onthe'heated matrix with the superior record material in contact with the matrix, subjected to pressure'while still heated, and then cooled under pressure. In

this process, it has been found difficult to uniformly and evenly distribute the superior record materialpver the inferior body portion in the thin film required, and in a large number of cases the superior record material would be so thin in spots that the record would weariout at ,these spots long before the record as a whole was worn out, thus making a defective record. Furthermore, this objection could not be discovered until the record was actually put in use by the consumer.

The-present invention has for its object to provide a method by means of which the body portion of the record may be composed of inferior thermoplastic material and the surface portion thereof composed of a thin layer or film of superior thermoplastic record material without the employment of a separating sheet of paper or other fibrous material which caused thewrinkles and blisters above referred to and without danger of the thin-spots referred to in the last above 7 described process. I I

In practising the present invention, I pro:

ceed as follows: I prepare a disk of inferior thermoplastic record material of any suitable well-known composition for the body portion of the record. I'thentake asheet of paper, cloth or other fibrous support, waxed coated paper being preferred, and deposit thereona film of any suitable superior thermoplastic record stock such as the ordinary well-known record composition richin shellac, or any other suitable superior thermoplastic record materiah Preferably said superior stockis deposited in a plurality of films or layers. When the ordinary record stoclc'is employed, the same is deposited preferably in two layers, the first of which is in powdered condition and after being deposited and subjected to heat to soften the shellac content to render it adhesive, a second. layer, preferably much more finely divided or pulverized, is depositedthereon and the same thensubjectedto heat rot after which it is subjected to pressure, as by being PflSSOil between pressure rolls. There is thereby formed on the surface of the support (preferably waxed paper) a thin sheet or film of superior thermoplastic record'material of uniform thickness. The paper disks thus coated may then be allowed to cool and laid away in stock for future use. or they may be immediately used while still heated.

. Having thus prepared the disk of inferior thermoplastic material for the body of the record and the disk of superior record ma terial for the face portion'of the record on a support of paper or other material, the two are rendered plastic by being suitably heated, and I then proceed as follows: I apply the superior record material, face down, upona suitably heated matrix, preferably having placed the usual label on the matrix, after which I peel off the paper support or other backing from the superior thermoplastic record material. This peeling off is facilitated by the wax on the paper, if wax or other equivalent material has been used, and by the heated condition of the record material itself. I then apply the inferior body portion or backing on top of the superior record material and subject the whole to pressure in the presence of heat, whereby the superior record material takes the impression from the matrix and also is caused to firmlyv adhere to the inferior body portion. Ithen chill the-record and matrix under pressure, and separate the pressed record from the matrix.

If a double faced record is to be pressed,

' I proceed as indicated aboveuntil the inferior body portion of the record is in pos1-v tion, take a second disk of superior record 7 material while on its support, heat the same, lay it face downward upon a. secoi' id heated matrix, and then peel off thepaper sheet or support and reverse this second matrix with its applied layer of superior record material onto the upper side of the aforesaid body portion of the record, and then subject the whole to pressure while still'heated,

and while under pressure permit the matrices and the record to cool and then separate the matrices and the pressed record.

Ihave found by numerous experiments that when the record is made according to the method just described, I am enabled to provide the inferior body portion of the record with a facing or facings of superior record material in the form of a thin film and hencewithout any "Waste of material,

which film is so uniformly distributed that no thin and defective spots occur in the finished record. I thereby avoid. the defects incident to the use of a separating sheet and also'the defects incident to the old method of applying the superior record material by sifting it directly upon the face of the inferior body portion. Moreover, the layer or film of superior record material when 'applied to-the inferior body portion is thoroughly compacted by reason of the previous application of heat and pressure so that a perfectly homogeneous -film of superior record material is provided which results 'in a high grade record at a minimum exand am enabled to practice all of the im- 7 portant. steps which determine the 'superiority or quality' of the record by machinery.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is z- 1. The improved process of pressing a sound record from a matrix which consists in preparing a thin -film of superior record material upon a suitable support or sheet, placing said-film of superior record material in a heated condition in contact with a. heated matrrx, removing the said sheet, applying a heatedlaycrof inferior record material to the back of said layer of superior record material, and subjecting the whole to pressure in the presence of heat.

2. The process of pressing a sound record from a matrix which consists in forming a thin film or layer of superior thermoplastic record material on a suitable sheet or support, applying said layer of superior record material in a heated condition to a heated matrix, removing the support, applying a body ofinferior thermoplastic'record ma terialin heatedcondition to the back of said superior record material, placing a second film of superior thermoplastierecord material in a heated condition upon a second heated matrix, removing the support from said film of superior record material, placing the back of said second film of superior record material on top of the said body of" inferior record material, and subjecting the whole to pressure in the presence of heat.

3. The process ofpressing a sound record from a matrix which consists in applyinga plurality of layers or films of superior record material one above the other to a sheet of paper, heating and compacting-the same (while heated) under pressure, applying said film of superior recordmaterial m a heated condition to a heated matrix,re

moving the paper, applying a-bo dy of inplurality of layers or films of superior record material one above the other to a. sheet of waxed pa er, heating-and compactapplying said film of superior record maing the same ,(whi e heated) under pressure, k V

terial in a heated condition to a, heated maspecification in the presence of two subtnx, remoying the Waxed paper, applying scribing witnesses.

ajbody. of'inferior thermoplastic record n1a- MERVIN m I YLE "teria'l in disk form to theback of said so 5 perior record material, and subjecting the lVitnesses:

Whole to pressure in the presence of heat. J. S. GRIFFITH,

"Intestimony whereof I have signed this F. B. LAIOBTE 

